Merit Beauty Review (2025): Clean, Minimalist Makeup

I’m all about minimalist beauty so when I heard about Merit’s clean skincare line. I was definitely intrigued! Merit Beauty was created to reimagine luxury beauty by making it clean, well-edited, and accessible. The line contains all the basic products you need to create a beautiful and natural look while also being good for your skin.

*Updated June 2025. Some products were gifted but all opinions are my own. Contains affiliate links.

Since Merit launched in the beginning of 2021, I’ve been slowly adding to my collection. The brand has been kind enough to gift me a few items, but the majority of the products I’ve bought myself—that’s how much I love this brand! Below, you’ll find a review of ALL the Merit Beauty products currently available (minus the brow pomade and shade slick gelees). I’ll be updating this post whenever I get new products in.

MERIT BEAUTY REVIEW

It was founded by Katherine Power, founder and CEO of Who What Wear and Versed Skincare. When creating Merit Beauty, the team realized that people were looking for cleaner beauty products that also performed and made people look like the best (natural) version of themselves. And so Merit Beauty was born.

Is Merit Beauty Clean?

All of Merit’s products are EU-compliant, Paraben-Free, Sulfate-Free, Artificial Fragrance-Free, and Clean at Sephora. They’ve also partnered with celebrity aesthetician Biba de Sousa to ensure the products are safe for all skin types by eliminating an additional 73 clean but potentially acne-triggering ingredients.

Merit considers itself “clean” but not “all-natural” since it uses non-toxic ingredients that are both natural and synthetic. Also, be aware that there is no official standard for “clean” beauty, but Merit has the highest standards for safe and effective ingredients.

is merit beauty cruelty-free?

Yes, Merit is Cruelty-Free, Vegan, and certified by Leaping Bunny. Merit Beauty also cares about the planet, and all orders are packaged in 100% recyclable packaging.

BEST MERIT BEAUTY PRODUCTS

I’m reviewing the products in the order I would apply them in my makeup routine.

Great Skin Instant Glow Serum + Priming Moisturizer

The Great Skin Instant Glow Serum is one of Merit’s newer products. It’s a lightweight bi-phase serum that plumps and hydrates. This serum contains 4 types of hyaluronic acid to keep the skin hydrated and Niacinamide to brighten. The Great Skin Priming Moisturizer is a lightweight moisturizer that helps prime skin for makeup while keeping it hydrated.

I wasn’t sure I needed this serum and moisturizer because I have A TON of skincare products. But I really do like both and would purchase again. First of all, they look gorgeous on my vanity (hey – aesthetics are important!). Secondly, they work great to prep the skin for the Complexion Stick. I have drier skin (especially in the winter), and I find the Complexion Stick works best when the skin is properly hydrated. The Glow Serum is also great on no makeup days to give the skin a nice glow. Overall, this is a great all-in-one serum that keeps my skin hydrated and glowy.

The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick

I loved that The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick can be used as foundation, concealer, or a contour stick, depending on how you use it. I decided to use mine as foundation/concealer, so I went with a shade to match my skin. If you want to use it as a contour stick, just take a shade or two darker!

P.S. Merit added more shades to their Complexion Stick so if their shades didn’t work for you the first time, you might want to try again! I originally used “Silk” but switched to the new shade “Chiffon” because I felt it was an even closer match.

I love the look of this product. The stick is so pretty, and it’s a perfect size for fitting in any bag. I also love that it’s a no-mess foundation. You don’t have to worry about it opening up in your bag and spilling all over the place. The stick design also allows you to apply it without getting your hands messy. I just draw a few lines on my face and then buff it out with a foundation brush.

FYI – my last several Complexion Sticks broke off in the tube. It doesn’t affect application too much but it was still kind of annoying. I would suggest only pushing out just enough product to apply to the skin.

Merit Complexion Stick vs. ILIA skin tint

The coverage of the Complexion Stick is light to medium, so it still lets your natural skin shine through. My go-to “foundation” is ILIA’s Skin Tint which is very dewy and hydrating. The Merit Complexion Stick is definitely not as dewy or moisturizing but it doesn’t feel drying either. However, I do make sure to properly moisturize and prep my face before application. The Complexion Stick is more matte than ILIA’s Skin Tint and provides a little more coverage. I also love using the Complexion Stick as a concealer. I’ll use it on my dark circles under my eyes in combination with my ILIA Skin Tint on the rest of my face.

I took a guess on my shade color and tried to compare the descriptions with the shade I wear from ILIA. I went with the “Silk” shade and I think it’s a good match for my skin tone. If you need more help picking your shade you can email Merit with a picture of your face and other brands you use and they can help you pick the right color!

Overall, I’m pleased with the Merit Beauty Complexion Stick. My go-to is still the ILIA Skin Tint because it has SPF but I like to use the Merit stick on days when I want more coverage or as a concealer.

The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen

Merit now has a tinted mineral sunscreen—The Uniform! It doesn’t really feel like sunscreen, though. It’s more of a tinted moisturizer—lightweight and buildable with a natural, velvety finish. The coverage is anywhere from light to medium, depending on how much you use. From what I can tell, it doesn’t leave a white cast (but I’m also really pale).

If you plan to use this as your sunscreen, you might feel like you have too much on. You’ll need about 1/4 tsp. of product for your face and neck. That’s several pumps of the Merit sunscreen, which can feel like a lot on my face. Additionally, it will feel very wet and dewy at first, so you need to give it some time to set. Once it does, the finish is very nice and natural—not dewy.

I’ll be wearing this more like makeup OVER my regular sunscreen. That way I don’t have to use as much. Now that means I won’t be getting the full spf 45 out of the Merit sunscreen. I just prefer wearing a regular facial sunscreen so I can really slather it on and not feel like I’m wearing a lot of makeup.

However, you need to be careful about layering sunscreen products. Apparently, you aren’t supposed to layer a mineral sunscreen over a chemical sunscreen—and vice versa. This is a whole other blog post in itself, but I would look into it before mixing sunscreens. That would mean if you are using the Merit tint, you’ll have to use a mineral sunscreen underneath. There are nuances to this, so it’s best to do your own research.

I do really like the finish of the Merit Tinted Sunscreen. It starts off pretty dewy but dries down to a nice soft finish that blurs the skin without covering up too much (I actually might prefer it over the Complexion Stick). The downside is that there aren’t a ton of shades (yet). This does make it harder to find an exact match. I have Shade 28, which is supposed to match 4 shades of the Complexion Stick! What? I’m hoping that they expand the color range soon!

Great SKin Double Cleanse

Merit just dropped their version of a double-cleanse-in-one. Double cleansing is when you wash your face with an oil cleanser, followed by a water-based cleanser. It does mean washing your face twice, but it’s really effective at removing dirt and makeup. I’m a big fan of the double cleanse!

So, when Merit dropped their Great Skin Double Cleanse, I was intrigued. Instead of two steps, Merit combined them into an oil-free bi-phase formula. Just shake the bottle to mix the phases and apply a pump to wet skin to remove dirt, oil, makeup, and sunscreen.

I think this is a great cleanser for people who want a simplified cleansing routine that won’t strip your skin. However, it doesn’t replace an actual double-cleanse for me. I still feel the need to follow up with a simple cleanser to feel like it got everything off. You do have to massage the Great Skin Double Cleanse into your skin for awhile to take off heavy makeup. It works well getting of Merit products because they are lightweight. Overall, I wouldn’t purchase again because I like my true double cleanse routine.

Brush No. 1 Blending Brush

Brush No. 1 is the perfect complement to the Complexion Stick for blending and buffing product into the skin. It’s made with extra-soft vegan bristles and a 100% recyclable aluminum handle.

I’m not an expert on brushes so I can’t say if this is the best brush I’ve ever used. But this is a great option if you’re looking for a new blending brush. It’s really soft and feels great on my skin. It does a great job of blending the Complexion Stick into my skin. My only complaint is that I wish it were double-sided with a smaller, more tapered brush. I feel like that would make it easier to blend product around my eyes and nose. I also wish it were retractable with a lid to keep it mess-free when I travel.

Bronze Balm Sheer Bronzer

The Bronze Balm is a sheer, buildable bronzer that gives skin warmth and depth. It comes in 5 shades to complement all skin colors.

I was skeptical of this product because my skin is so fair that sometimes bronzers are too much. But I was pleasantly surprised with the product! It truly is a foolproof formula. This bronzer blends in really nicely and gives my skin warmth and contour without being too much. I also love that it’s not shimmery. It’s a creamy, satin finish that looks so natural. I picked the shade Quince according to their color chart.

Swatches top to bottom: Day Glow in Cava, Flush Balm in Fox, Bronze Balm in Quince

Flush Balm Cheek Color

The Flush Balm is a creamy, buildable cheek color in 9 shades. Again, this product is really blendable and easy to apply. It does blend in pretty sheer, but you can layer it to build more color. I went with the Fox shade for a light, natural color. Since the Flush Balm does blend in pretty sheer, I think you can pick a darker or more bold shade and still get a natural look.

My only complaint is that it doesn’t seem super long-lasting. Maybe that’s because I always apply it pretty light, but I’ve tried other cheek colors that seem to last longer.

Day Glow Highlighting Balm

The Day Glow is a dewy highlighter in four shades that gives the perfect glow without being sparkly. I hesitated to buy this highlighting balm because I was afraid of looking sparkly like other highlighters. But the Day Glow is very subtle and not sparkly! I went with Cava because I thought it would work best with my fair skin. This highlighter gives off just enough sheen to give a natural glow. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the shades because the color is so light.

Solo Shadow

Solo Shadow is Merit’s newest product! It’s a cream-to-powder shadow that gives a soft, matte wash of color. It’s buildable and blendable and comes in four neutral shades and four colors.

I’ll be honest – eyeshadow intimidates me. I feel like I can never get it to look right. So I was kind of skeptical about whether I would like this. Turns out – I love it! It’s really easy to apply and blend. You can use it for a very light wash of color or layer for a bold look. I picked out the Vachetta shade, and it’s a lovely warm beige. The STUDIO shade might have been a better color for my fair skin, so I’ll have to give that a try sometime!

I was surprised to find that I really like the Statement color shades! When the products launched, I fell in love with the VIPER green shade and ordered it right away. It looks great as a soft eyeliner and is subtle enough to go over the whole lid.

Solo Shadow in Viper and Vachetta

Brush No. 2 Eyeshadow Brush

Brush No. 2 is the perfect complement to the Solo Shadow. It’s a dual-ended brush that allows you to create a wash of color over the lid or draw more precise lines around your lash line.

This brush works great with the Solo Shadow. The bristles are dense enough to apply the right amount of cream to powder shadow. I really like that it has a small tapered end for applying the shadow as a liner. If you don’t already have a good eyeshadow brush, this would be a great one to pick up.

Clean Lash Lengthening Mascara

Clean Lash is a tubing mascara that tints, lengthens, and lifts lashes. It comes in one shade: Perfect Black.

I’m not a huge fan of mascara because I prefer lash extensions. My lashes are very heavy and curl-resistant, so when I wear mascara, I look for light formulas that aren’t clumpy and won’t weigh my lashes down. My go-to has been the ILIA Limitless Lash mascara because I like the formula and the dual-sided brush, which makes it really easy to lift and separate the lashes. However, the ILIA mascara is not a tubing mascara, so I was excited to try out the Merit Clean Lash.

I’ve changed my mind about Merit’s mascara. At first, I couldn’t really tell a major difference. But after wearing this mascara for a while, I’ve realized that this tubing mascara does lengthen my lashes. I’ve also noticed that it doesn’t smudge that easily. I’ve rubbed my eyes and haven’t had much transfer. FYI, you will need to double cleanse this mascara off—it stays on really well. I think I might be switching from ILIA to Merit.

Shade Slick Tinted Lip Oil

I’m always wearing lip color, so I wanted to give Merit’s Shade Slick a try. My lips are also always dry, so I’m always on the hunt for lip colors that are hydrating. The Shade Slick is my go-to lip color now. I’ve since bought it in a couple of shades—Au Natural, Taupe, and Marrakech. My favorite is probably Taupe because it’s a really neutral shade that goes with everything.

The Shade Slick comes in a really small bottle, though—like a travel size. I actually like the size because I have so many lip colors, and I feel like I never end up using the whole bottle. BUT if you are planning on using this every day exclusively, then I don’t think it will last a long time. The color also doesn’t last a long time. I do have to reapply often. But I love the feel of this lip oil, so I don’t mind!

Shade Slick “The GELées”

The Shade Slicks are also available in four Gelées colors, which are more sheer than the original Shade Slick. The description says that they are formulated with color-blooming pigments to adjust to your lips so that the shade will appear slightly different on everyone, which I think sounds interesting!

I did end up getting the Gelées in JETE—the sheer neutral shade. I really like it and wear it often. It feels more cushion-y and hydrating than the Classic shades. It definitely has more of a lip gloss feel than a lip stain. The color is very subtle but gives the lips a nice plump glow. The color is so subtle that I don’t think you can go wrong with any shade.

Shade Slick “The Sheens”

Merit recently added Shade Slick Sheens, like a combo of the Classic shades and Gelées. The Sheens have the cushiony feel of the Gelées and the color saturation of the Classics, but with a new pearlescent finish. I really didn’t feel like I’d like the Sheens because I’m not looking for “sparkly” lips. But I was pleasantly surprised with this formula! It just gives your lips a nice shine without looking sparkly at all. Merit’s website says this is an updated formula that provides more cushion and extended wear, which I agree with. I chose the shade “Pointelle” and I love it. It looks very natural and gives my lips a nice wash of color. I think I’ll be getting the nude pink shade “Biarritz”

Signature Lip: Aperitif + Slip || Shade Slick top to bottom: Taupe, Au Natural, Marrakech

Signature Lip Liner

Another new addition to the Merit lineup is the Signature Lip Liner – a smooth gel formula that provides sheer, buildable coverage with a satin finish. Usually, lip liner is too much for my makeup routine but I was willing to give it a go for Merit. Again, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it! It glides on very smoothly and is easy to apply. You can actually wear it by itself for a nice wash of color that will last longer than their other lip colors.

I have shades “Beverly Hills” and “Coupe,” and both match my natural lip color. I’ve found that adding the lip liner and filling in my lips a little bit helps the color of my Merit lip products last longer. I think the Merit lip liners were made to complement the Shade Slick Sheen colors nicely. You can see them paired up in this image.

I’d recommend buying the Lip Liner and Lip Sheen together in The Lip Duo to save some money!

Check out this post for more details and photos of the lip liners and sheens HERE!

Signature Lip lightweight lipstick

The Signature Lip is a hydrating, buildable lipstick with a soft satin finish that comes in 8 shades.

I don’t often find myself reaching for lipstick anymore because I prefer lip tints. But Merit recently released their limited edition red shade Aperitif this summer, and I thought it looked like the perfect red, so I ordered it! I think they bring back Aperitif during the holiday season, so keep an eye out.

The Signature Lip is easy to apply and feels creamy. I have really dry lips, so I still prefer the Shade Slick over the lipstick. I also just got the Signature Lip in Slip, which is a warm neutral. It comes across as a neutral brown on my lips. I wear it under one of my Shade Slicks to give my lips more dimension. I think the color Baby would have been slightly more flattering on me since it has more neutral pinkish tones.

Overall, the Signature Lip is easy to apply. Sometimes I have problems applying red shades to my lip because I feel like it has to be perfect. But I don’t really have a problem applying the Aperitif shade. The only downside is that I don’t feel like the product is long lasting. I definitely have to reapply after meals or throughout the day.

Wearing Glow Serum, Complexion Stick in Silk, Bronze Balm in Quince, Flush Balm in Fox, Day Glow in Cava, Solo Shadow in Viper, Mascara, Signature Lip in Slip, and Shade Slick in Taupe.

Is Merit Beauty Worth It?

I do really like the aesthetics of this line. The quality of the products is very nice as well. Like I said above, I’ve purchased almost the entire line and it’s now my go-to makeup routine. All of Merit Beauty’s products are hydrating and easy to apply. If you are looking for fool-proof makeup that will give you a natural, dewy look then this is it!

The downside to Merit products is that I don’t think they are long-lasting. I do have to reapply for the afternoon/evening. And if you are looking for full-coverage products, Merit is not for you. Even with building and layering Merit products, you still get a very natural look.

My MUST-HAVE products from Merit’s line are the Complexion Stick and Shade Slick. I’ve already repurchased them multiple times. My other favorites from the line are the Bronze Balm, Flush Balm, Solo Shadow, Glow Serum, and Lengthening Mascara.

Another thing I like about this line is that you get a free makeup bag with your first purchase from Meritbeauty.com. It’s so cute that it can be used as a clutch too!

Where to Buy Merit Beauty

You can buy Merit Beauty at meritbeauty.com and also exclusively at Sephora.com! So if you prefer to shop at Sephora, make sure to add some Merit products to your cart!

Watch my Merit Beauty Makeup Routine

You can see the Merit Complexion Stick and Shade Slick in action below!

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